Moscow preparations near the finish line

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The Local Organising Committee of the IAAF World Championships, Moscow 2013, took the opportunity to give an update on the preparations for the next edition of the sport’s showcase ahead of the weekend of IAAF Centenary celebrations in the Catalan capital on Friday (23).

“We are on the home straight for our preparations of the World Championships,” commented Local Organising Committee executive director Alexsander Polinsky.

“Since September, we have received a number of delegations from the IAAF and its partners. There are things to improve on and do more but we are on the right direction. But we have practically solved all organizational matters,” he added.

Polinsky pointed out two issues of key importance concerning the Championships.

“The track in the Luzhniki Stadium (the venue for the Championships in the south west of the Russian capital) is finished and has been refurbished, as well as all the sectors for jumping and throwing.

“Next year, all the markings will be done and in May there will be a series of test events. We are also in the process of changing the track in the training venue.”

“We have also already sold over $1 million worth of tickets since we put them on sale. It’s is the early stages but I think that is a very positive sign.”

The famous Luzhniki Stadium, which staged the 1980 Olympic Games has a current capacity of 80,000 but will be remodeled so that 50,000 seats are available to the general public as well as the seats that will be used by teams, VIPs and media.

London success lights up Moscow

The success of the most recent Olympic Games, in London this past summer, has provided an inspiration to the Moscow organisers.

“The Olympics are like a lighthouse seen from a distance, a motivation to improve the quality of our Championships,” added the All-Russia Athletics Federation general secretary Mikhail Butov.

Also on hand to promote the Championships was the current Olympic and World high jump champion Anna Chicherova.

“I very much hope we will have a world record (in Moscow) and, for me, competing on home soil is very meaningful. I want to show a good result to make my friends, family and fans happy,” commented the confident Chicherova.

“Obviously, this is the highpoint of next year for me so I’m 80 per cent probable to miss the winter season,” she added.